Aluminum Alloys

Aluminum Alloys

Featuring: all standard and special Al alloys—obsolete, prototype, custom customer specification, AA Specifications, small or large lots, Al-base master alloys.

Although Aluminum is the third most abundant element in the Earth’s crust (after oxygen and silicon), it is a relatively “new” metal, becoming available in commercial quantities – and at a reasonable cost – just over a century ago. This is because Aluminum is produced only by a complex process that uses huge amounts of electricity (approximately 17,000 Kwh per ton of Aluminum). Fortunately, Aluminum is easily recycled, particularly in beverage cans.

Aluminum has many useful properties, it is the lightest of the common metals, has good conductivity and corrosion resistance, and is easier to cast, forge, roll, and extrude than most metals. These properties allow Aluminum and its alloys to find applications across a broad spectrum of uses.

Aluminum is rarely used in its pure, unalloyed state. The most common metals alloyed with Aluminum are Silicon, Magnesium, Copper, Zinc, Nickel, Manganese and Tin. Among the less common are two Aluminum Alloys that contain about 1% Silver. There are over 100 recognized casting alloys, and more than 400 wrought Aluminum alloy designations. Aluminum alloys are very versatile, since stiffness, strength, corrosion resistance, machinability, and other properties can be tailored by alloy selection and heat treatments.

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The 200-Series of Aluminum-Copper Alloys are well known for very high strength; nearly double that of the more common 300-Series of Aluminum-Silicon alloys. However, the 200 series can be very difficult to cast. These alloys should be considered where the strength vs. weight ratio is the key consideration such as in the Aerospace and Transportation sector.

A356 has very good casting and machining characteristics. Corrosion resistance is excellent and it has very good weldability characteristics. Mechanical properties are rated excellent. Typically this alloy is used in castings for aircraft parts, pump housings, impellers, high velocity blowers and structural castings where high strength is required. The fact that A356 has good castability makes it a logical choice for intricate and complex castings where lightweight, pressure tightness and excellent mechanical properties are needed.

319 has excellent casting and machining characteristics. Corrosion resistance and weldability are very good and the mechanical properties are good. The anodized color is generally gray with a brown cast depending on the amount and ratio of silicon and copper. Typical applications for sand casting 319.0 are a wide variety of structural castings for engine parts, gas and oil pans, and general commercial applications.

A380 offers the best combination of casting, mechanical, and thermal properties and exhibits excellent fluidity, pressure tightness, and resistance to hot cracking. It is used for a wide variety of products including chassis for electronic equipment, engine brackets, gearbox cases, household furniture, power, and hand tools.

A357 is typically used in situations where high strength combined with high corrosion resistance and/or pressure tightness are required. A357 is commonly used to make parts; including structural, machine, impellers, housings, pump and valve components, tools, frames, and brackets.

The 200-Series of Aluminum-Copper Alloys are well known for very high strength; nearly double that of the more common 300-Series of Aluminum-Silicon alloys. However, the 200 series can be very difficult to cast. These alloys should be considered where the strength vs. weight ratio is the key consideration such as in the Aerospace and Transportation sector.

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